21st Century AFSA response to Tex Harris's Statement

As candidate running for re-election as AFSA President with the 21stCentury AFSA slate, I am addressing this e mail in support of State VP candidate for re-election, Daniel Hirsch. Daniel has been the target of election campaign statements by retiree candidate for the AFSA Presidency, Tex Harris, calling into question Daniel’s suitability and credentials as State VP.

It remains my hope, however, that this election campaign for the 2011-2013 AFSA Governing Board will focus on our agenda and performance and avoid acrimony and bitterness.

Daniel Hirsch is the State VP candidate on the 21st Century AFSA slate because I and other members of the current Board appreciated his strong and positive contributions to the work of the Board as an active and responsible team player.

Daniel is a well-respected FS-01 Management officer with extensive and diverse service overseas and in Washington.

He has been decorated with four Superior Honor Awards, five Meritorious Honor Awards, the Department of State's GSO of the Year award, and the National Cold War Certificate, in addition to MSIs and other commendations.

With 25 years of experience in three regions overseas, and in three functional bureaus in the Department, Daniel has brought to the VP position close and collegial personal relationships with AFSA’s senior interlocutors in the department including the directors of HR, MED, DS, OBO, as well as with FLO and the OMS Coordinator. As the incumbent State VP, he has helped forge a closer relationship between AFSA and DS leadership. As with other AFSA agency VPs, he frequently accompanies me on visits to the Hill, and is an active participant in formulating and drafting AFSA policies and in our work to defend overseas comparability pay.

As regards the issue of security clearance, today AFSA’s work is transparent and unclassified. There has been no instance during the tenure of the current board that any issue requiring a security clearance has arisen.

The State Vice President of AFSA manages AFSA’s labor management office, which represents individual members in matters before the Department. As a management officer, having addressed many of the issues involved from the management perspective, Mr. Hirsch brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to that task. Daniel has indeed assisted a number of“single interest groups,” including among others:

Working with management to reduce the 5% low-ranking rule to 2% thereby eliminating both inequity and inefficiencies.
Incorporating language into the Core Promotion Precepts to reduce bias against technical specialists and those assigned to domestic positions.
Preventing the elimination of out-of-cone assignment opportunities for IMTS employees.
Advocating for better career paths for OMS and STS employees.
Correcting asystemic error which had caused several dozen DS Special Agents to be underpaid.
Advocating for measures that enable disabled employees to compete for assignments and promotions on a more level playing field.
Seeking to eliminate Time In Class limitations for Diplomatic Couriers.
Urging OBO to buy or build more earthquake resistant housing for people in posts with seismic concerns.
Extending the scope of Language Incentive Pay for speakers of hard languages.
I urge you to vote for Daniel and for all members of the 21stCentury AFSA slate. I hope that you will give us the opportunity to build on the achievements of the current board for which we have received very encouraging and positive feedback. We remain dedicated to continue our work to defend and strengthen the Foreign Service during challenging and difficult times.

I invite you to visit our website at www.21stCenturyafsa.com. You will also find our platform and campaign statement with the paper ballots mailed on March 28. Let me take this opportunity to thank retiree VP candidate Bob Houdek and retiree representative candidates Janice Bay, Molly Williamson and Ed Marks for their endorsements for my candidacy for AFSA President.

Susan Rockwell Johnson
Candidate for President
Statement on behalf of 21stCentury AFSA Slate

The original can be seen here.